Car-coupling



(No Model.)

' H. M. 00X.

GAR COUPLING.-

' Patented Apr. 26, 1898.

W Inventor UNITED] STATES,

PATENT 'QFFIOE.

HENRY M. oox, OF LINDEN, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE INTERNA- T ONAL AUTOMATIC CAR-COUPLER OOMPANY, OF'sAN JOA UIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

. CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFiCATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 603,176, dated April 26, 1898.

- Application filed November 13 1897. Serial No. 658,490. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: 7

Be it known thatI, HENRY M. COX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Linden, in the county of San Joaquin and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will -enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to that class of automatic car-couplers in.which there are two links connected by two metal pins passed through a sleeve in a movable slide, said links being held in place by a pin or bolt whioh'is passed through the solid metal of the head. The objectof the invention is to so combine the two coupling-links that after being coupled theyform a double link, thereby giving double strength, as well as to be automatic and save handling when cars are coupled together.

A further object of the invention is to 'provide for-the use of four pins instead of two, as is usual, also to form alink-coupling by means of which the coupler is relieved from friction when the trains are on curves, as well as to preserve the utility of the coupling if oneof:

in vertical section and in position to be c011? pled. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section showing the links coupledf. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one part offthecoupler. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the parts coupled, and Fig. 5 shows the arrangement of the springs when a sliding sleeve is used.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

0 C are the heads of the coupler, and as the two are counterparts or duplicates it is only necessary to describe oneof them. The head 0 is of metal and of suitable form to be secured to the car or the bufier thereof, and it built. A socketfor the link extends inward a suitable distance from the front end of the head O. This socket is to receive the links and has a flaring mouth, as usual, so that the links will be easily and readily inserted therein and have some play. The walls of the ,head have apertures M, through which the E, and the rear end of the spring abuts against a shoulder formed on the top of' the head, while the pin or rod extends into a lateral recess in the shouldered part of the head when the slide E, which in its normal position extends beyond the front face of the head, is pushed back to couple the links.

The slide E is secured to the head so as to slide thereon by depending feet at each side connected at the bottom by a cross-bolt O or by means of a flange on the head G, or it may be a sleeve extending around said head and may have the spring or springs at the top, sides, or bottom, as may be preferred, as shown in Fig. 5. p

A vertical bolt G passes through the slot L 'in the slide E and is secured by means of a ling-pin will be supported on the solid part of the head, and when the cars come together the concussion or impact will push back the slide E until-the lower end of the couplingpin H is coincident with the holes or apertures M, when the pin drops down by gravity and couples the links.

The links D are oval or rectangular in form and are wedge-shaped, the thinnest or attenuated end projecting from the sockets in the head.

The pin H may be formed with a shoulder, if desired, to prevent it from falling out of the sleeve F, and it may be provided with a suitable lever, to be operated from the side or top of the car, for uncoupling, or it may be secured by means of a chain to prevent it from falling to the ground when it is desired to uncouple by hand.

The heads, at their front ends, are preferably somewhat rounded, so that when two cars are coupled they will allow some lateral movement when a train is going around a curve.

The operation of the coupler will be fully understood from the foregoing description. The coupling operation is automatic, and the uncoupling is performed by withdrawing the coupling-pin either by hand or by means of a suitable lever.

The form of the linksviz., of wedge shape-makes a stronger coupling, and each link is held by two pins-that is to say, the coupling-pins and the bolt that secures the link in placeand if either pin should accidentally be broken the link will be held by the remaining pin.

Minor changes may be'made in the structure, Within the scope of the invention, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A car-coupler having a socketed head with vertical apertures therethrough, a slotted sliding plate on top of the head provided with a sleeve and which normally projects beyond the front face of the head, a couplingpin supported in said sleeve with its lower end resting on the solid part of the head for automatic coupling, a wed ge-shaped link and a vertical bolt passed through the head link and sliding plate, substantially as described.

2. A car-coupler having a socketed head with vertical apertures therethrough, a slotted sliding plate on top of the head provided with a sleeve and which projects normally beyond the front face of the head, a spring between the head of the sliding plate and a shoulder on the socketed head, a couplingpin supported in said socket-sleeve with its lower end resting on the solid part of the head for automatic coupling, a wedge-shaped link, and an independent bolt which is passed through the head, link and the slot in the sliding plate, substantially as described.

3. A car-coupler having a socketed head with vertical apertures therethrough, a slotted sliding plate which normally projects beyond the front face of the head, a rod or bar on the head of the plate, a spring surroundin g said rod and resting against a shoulder on the head, a sleeve on the sliding plate, a coupling-pin supported in said sleeve with its lower end resting on the solid part of the head for automatic coupling, a wedge-shaped link, and an independent bolt which is passed through the head, link and slot in the sliding plate, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY M. COX.

Vi tn esses:

W. H. SHEETS, S. M. RIcKEY. 

